Normally hopeless NFL fans in Michigan and western New York can now reasonably ask a question that hasn't come up in years—let alone in September: When do playoff tickets go on sale?

While the football world struggles to comprehend that the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are both 3-0, here's something else to get used to: They're probably going to the playoffs. Since 1978—the year the NFL went to a 16-game season—76% of the teams that started 3-0 ended up making the playoffs (excluding shortened seasons).

Granted, there are the occasional flukes. The 2009 Denver Broncos won their first six games under wunderkind rookie coach Josh McDaniels, yet wound up 8-8. (McDaniels started the next season 3-9 and was replaced.) The 2001 San Diego Chargers hold the distinction of being the worst 3-0 team in the 16-game era, miraculously turning their hot start into a 5-11 final record.

And then there are the 2008 Bills. Three years ago, Buffalo won its opening four games before tumbling to 7-9.

But a 3-0 start is usually indicative of a pretty good team. Eight times out of 10—84% of the time, to be precise—a 3-0 team goes on to post no worse than a 9-7 record. About half of all 3-0 teams (56%) win 11 games or more.

Neither the Bills nor the Lions have been to the playoffs since 1999, but the odds at this point are with them.

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